Wednesday, March 4, 2015

This Little Underground: Cursive, Beach Slang and Megafauna (The Social)

Cursive’s knotty conceit has, by now, etched this Saddle Creek pillar permanently into the indie rock pantheon, and they always do well in Orlando (Mar. 3, The Social). But the openers for the latest sell-out show offered glimpses into the near future.

Ashley Belanger

Beach Slang at the Social

By far the brightest was Philadelphia’s Beach Slang. With some pedigree from underrated ‘90s pop-punk band Weston, bandleader James Alex Snyder motors further into punk-lifted melodic rock terrain with Beach Slang, wisely trading in a little of yesterday’s jump for a lot of straight-up drive. The thing that’s not only great but will perhaps prove more enduring about this new vehicle is that it’s got that big ‘90s heart that’s all the rage right now but without any of the time-stamped gimmicks. Beach Slang’s straightforward anthems are simple but huge, filled with just overdriven soul and the O.G. authenticity of someone who was actually part of the ‘90s wave. The music is direct but well-aimed and shot with gusto, not unlike the Replacements, whom they covered very well in the second excellent rendition of “Can't Hardly Wait” I’ve heard in two weeks (the first was from Justin Townes Earle at the Dr. Phillips Center).

Ashley Belanger

Beach Slang at the Social

They sprang a surprise headlining performance the night before with local indie-rockers the Pauses at Will’s Pub, which I missed regrettably. But from what seemed like an aggregate of their own big spirit and positive wind from the night before, they had the room feeling like it was their show for a little while with one of the most dominant opening sets I’ve seen in a long time. Fists were pumping, people leapt onto shoulders and a pit ignited, all for them. Yeah, it looks like they got a posse in Orlando. The band just signed to heavyweight indie Polyvinyl Records and have yet to release a full-length (due out later this year), but the buzz on Beach Slang is real.

Ashley Belanger

Megafauna at the Social

Not to be mistaken for experimental folk act and former Bon Iver colleagues Megafaun, Austin rockers Megafauna are a newer trio trying to be a direct wormhole between ‘90s alt-rock and classic guitar rock. They don’t take the freshest angle on either but they shred seriously enough that they should probably just go all in on the hard rock.